"The New Black is the best among several films that tangle with the role religion plays in the lives of America's queers."

— Mark Taylor / KQED Arts / NPR

The New Black is a documentary that tells the story of how the African-American community is grappling with the gay rights issue in light of the recent gay marriage movement and the fight over civil rights. The film documents activists, families and clergy on both sides of the campaign to legalize gay marriage and examines homophobia in the black community’s institutional pillar—the black church and reveals the Christian right wing’s strategy of exploiting this phenomenon in order to pursue an anti-gay political agenda.

The New Black takes viewers into the pews and onto the streets and provides a seat at the kitchen table as it tells the story of the historic fight to win marriage equality in Maryland and charts the evolution of this divisive issue within the black community.

War, deception and art come together in Rick Beyer’s new documentary The Ghost Army, the astonishing true story of American G.I.s — many of whom would go on to have illustrious careers in art, design and fashion — who tricked the enemy with rubber tanks, sound effects, and carefully crafted illusions during the Second World War.

The film originally screened for one night only at select theatres around the U.S. It has rarely been seen since and has recently been remastered into digital form.

The 2 part, 3 hour documentary consists mostly of archival footage putting the events surrounding Dr. King into context with the actions he took and distinguishes Dr. King as a leader for good cause through non-violent inspiration. It was nominated for an Academy Award. It won admission into the National Film Registry and has been entered into the Library of Congress.

Because we feel the documentary is of such great historical and educational value, we will be offering a special screening for area high school students. Thanks to the help of Great Lakes Airlines, Mr. Kaplan is coming to Moab and will be introducing the film at the special student showing. There will be no charge for admission at the special student screening.

Amy Goodman talks about the film on NPR's Democracy Now! with film excerpts:

Richard Kaplan, Associate Producer in charge of production will introduce the film at a Special Screening for Grand County High School Students:

Credit: Kino Lorber

Credit: Kino Lorber

Credit: Kino Lorber

Credit: Kino Lorber

Credit: Kino Lorber

Credit: Kino Lorber

This film consists almost entirely of archival footage, but includes bridging sequences with readings from:

Burt Lancaster

Paul Newman

Anthony Quinn

Clarence Williams III

Joanne Woodward

Harry Belafonte

Ruby Dee

Ben Gazzara

Charlton Heston

James Earl Jones

“Perhaps the most important film documentary ever made.”

- The Philadelphia Bulletin

“The documentary footage is stunning. Mercifully, there is no added commentary. The events are allowed to speak for themselves. The soundtrack bursts with vitality — the roar of police motorcycles, bombs, burning crosses, ambulances, nightsticks crunching into human bone, gospel, shouts, the massed crowds before the Lincoln Memorial at the 1963 March on Washington, and, most thrilling of all, the speeches of the man himself. As for the images, if film is a mirror, we should all go see it, for, black and white, we will never look and see ourselves that beautiful or that innocent again.”

– Ellen Holly, The New York Times

“A powerful experience. The cumulative effects of the words and actions of this man can’t be underestimated.”

– The Christian Science Monitor

“KING reminds us of the staunchness of spirit that can be aroused in the hearts of the humble, the strengths that leads to victories… Scene and action approach the eloquence of King himself.”

– Judith Crist, New York Magazine

“Unlike many films that examine the past, this one does not remind us of how far we have come. It reminds us how far we have to go.”

– Chicago Sun-Times

“A piece of history of immense power”

–The Los Angeles Times

“It is fierce, violent, tender, hopeful and should be graded ‘R’ for Required. Above all, it is a compelling reminder that much remains to be done.”

Bidder 70 centers on an extraordinary, ingenious and effective act of civil disobedience demanding government and industry accountability. In 2008, University of Utah economics student Tim DeChristopher committed an act which would redefine patriotism in our time, igniting a spirit of civil disobedience in the name of climate justice. Follow Tim, Bidder 70, from college student to incarcerated felon. Redefine justice for yourself. Choose your side.

Beth and George Gage, along with Ashley Anderson are planning to attend the festival and introduce seldom seen footage, which celebrates the release of Tim DeChristopher! Ashley and the Gage's will conduct a question and answer session after the film.

Gelati e granite tells a little story, the story of a man with his ice cream van, who wandering in a warm and baroque corner of the world in southeastern Sicily, becomes privileged witness of stories, repository of memories and example of a life of commitment and self-sacrifice, love and solitude.

An elderly gentleman has fallen into a less than desirable orderly routine and finds himself yearning for some passion in his life. He uncovers an old box with many beautiful memories inside and decides to break away from his sad outlook and search for what really makes him happy.
Along the way he finds himself in his hometown which he is surprised to discover has transformed into an old ghost town. There is something very dear to him has been hidden, but exactly what, he can't quite remember. His memories and love are what guides him on his journey to finding peace.

In the wake of the 100-mile diet and the public’s increasing desire for local and organic food,
Crackdown! tells the story of Toronto’s urban chicken keepers, a smart, savvy and rapidly-growing band of mavericks who just want access to fresh eggs at home for their families … “Pets with benefits,” if you will.
The film takes a satirical look at the municipal bylaws that forced this movement underground and what it means to raise chickens in your backyard, – and become a criminal for doing so.

Animation Hotline is a series of daily animations that use messages left on the Dusty Studio voice-mail for content. The project was first seeded by giving out the phone number to a few poets and friends, but eventually caught on with bloggers and as the phone number proliferated through the internet the messages increased. Initially the phone number was a 212 area code number, and the idea was that the stories would be 'New York' stories, but it didn't take long to realize that the more messages received the more interesting material there was to choose from, and in the end, the more diverse the project would become.

This film has previously screened a limited number of times as listed below